Old Syrian Church, Chengannur

Last updated

Pazhaya Suriyani Pally a.k.a. Old Syrian Church, Chengannur is an ancient Syrian Christian church of Kerala. It is governed by a joint commission of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. It is considered as one among the oldest still standing church buildings in Kerala and across India, that predates several centuries before the arrival of European Christianity in India. It is located at Chengannur, a major town along the MC Road, about 117 km north of the Kerala state capital Thiruvananthapuram and about 98 km south of Kochi. According to the verdict by the Madras High Court the governance of the church is conducted by both denominations who appoint trustees for the maintenance of the building.

Contents

Chengannur 1.JPG

History

It is believed that the church was built about 1650 years ago. The structure of the church building certifies that it is very very old. The story is that long ago a hermit priest came to Chengannur and began a worship place at this spot.

Till AD 1580, Nazranis and Knanaya people were worshipping together in this church. Then the Knanaya people who escaped the persecution in Cochin and surrounding area, also joined with those at Chengannur. Later the Knanaya people had built their own church and moved out. [1] During reformation two groups were formed in the Malankara Church. These two factions quarreled in this church and there was a court case. Now the Chengannur Pazhaya Pally is co-owned by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. [2]

Trust Agreement

The parish is governed according to a Trust Agreement signed by both parties on 7 August 1877 [3] The names of the signatories in the same order as given in the original Agreement:

  1. Vicar Marakkan Parampil Ouseph Koshy Kathanaru. (‘’Kathanaru = clergy’’)
  2. Vicar Pallyil Veettil Geevarghese Geevarghese Kathanaru.
  3. Thoppil Cherian Yohannan Kathanaru.
  4. Poovathuru Chandy Yaccob Kathanaru’
  5. Kottaarathil Varkey Thoma Kathanaru’
  6. Kottureth Mammen Ouseph Kathanaru
  7. Pallyil Veettil Geeverghse Yaccob Kathanaru
  8. Perukaavil Vareeth Geevarghese Kathanaru
  9. Kadamthottil Nazrani Kocherya Mammen. (‘’Nazrani = St. Thomas Christian’’)
  10. Chittooru Nazrani Umumman Cherian
  11. Kurisummoottil Nazrani Kappitha Yohannan Chandy
  12. Pallithekkethil Nazrani Kappitha Ittyavira Chandy

Architecture

Architectural style is a blend of 18th Century Christian and Hindu temple architecture [4] [5] and something fast disappearing from Kerala landscape. Its gopuravathil, nadapanthal, kalluvilakku and doors adorned with carved figurines includes a Hanuman holding a baton. This is indicative of communal and religious harmony exhibited by the localities in yesteryears.

The Pazhaya Suriyani Pally in Chengannur and the Cheriya Pally (St. Mary's Orthodox Church) in Kottayam are unique with the same architectural splendor.

Chengannur 2.JPG

History

History has it that Ivanios Yuhanon, a metropolitan from Antioch, Syria, visited Malankara in 1751 and made the western malika (double storied building) of the Pazhya Suriyani Pally (this malika is no more there) his home. Mar Ivanios, credited with the propagation the liturgy of Mar Yacob in Malankara, died in 1794 and was interred in front of the southern thronos (altar) of the Church.

There is legend regarding Mar Ivanios’ arrival in Chengannur. When he reached Erapuzha Kadavu on River Pampa by boat, his followers took him to the Church in a procession. But the Nair chiefs of the land did not allow the procession to pass in front of the Vanchipuzha Chief's palace and the procession had to take a different route. When the son of Vanjipuzha Chief fell ill, the royal astrologer found that the curse of a saint had fallen on the son. The Chief is said to have tendered an apology to Mar Ivanios whose prayer rid the boy of his illness. In return the Chief bestowed tax-free land and properties to the Church.

Tablets of History: Over 1200 tombs in the cemetery adjoining the Suriyani Pally, some of them belonging to eminent Christians, stand as mute witness to the bygone days when all Christians were united in Christ but fell apart for reasons purely temporal[ verification needed ]. George Joseph, who was once President of the Indian National Congress and his brother renowned journalist Pothen Joseph and Padmashri PM Joseph, once principal of the National Physical Education College, Gwalior, are among those buried here[ verification needed ].

Suriyani Pally, short of written evidences of its hoary past except perhaps the words carved on the pillars of its nadapanthal, proudly recalls the stories of its tour de resistance against foreign machinations, both from the East and the West. Throughout the centuries the church proclaimed its independence as evidenced by the formation of a Trust ratified by Travancore Royal, Court and latest by the High Court of Kerala[ unreliable source? ]

Chengannur 7.JPG
Hanuman picture near chengannur Pazhaya Suriyani Pally Hanuman picture in chengannur Pazhaya Suriyani Pally.jpg
Hanuman picture near chengannur Pazhaya Suriyani Pally

Two tombs conspicuous by their close proximity to the Church belong to two illustrious sons of the Marthoma Church—Kottooreth Valiachan and Kottarathil Thoma Kaseesa. Valiachan, Rev. M. Joseph Kottooreth, was the first translator of the Syrian liturgy and first Secretary of the Church. He was also the first editor of the Malankara Sabha Tharaka. He also successfully conducted the Suriyani Pally case. Thoma Kaseesa and 11 others founded the Marthoma Suvishesha Sangham, which has been organizing the renowned Maramon Convention for more than a century. Mammans are not the Original Syrian Orthodox Christians, they were converted from Jats.

Chengannur 17.JPG

Traditions

The Church is famous Aval Nercha (offering of sweetened rice flakes) held on every Maundy Thursday, for the last four centuries. The current Trustee, V.A.Abraham Vaikkathethu, is one of the chief organisers of the Nercha at present. [6]

The aval nercha custom is said to have an uninterrupted history of not less than 400 years. It was the patronage of the then rural chieftain of Vanjippuzha Palace, attached to the erstwhile kingdom of Venad who ruled Chengannur in the 16th century, which made it a popular event in the region.

The Vanjippuzha chief had given the power of local administration to Thomman Thomman, founder of the Mukkathu family of Syrian Christians, who had migrated to Chengannur in the late 16th century.

Origins of the custom

According to church trustee V.A. Abraham, the origin of the aval nercha is attributed to an elderly matriarch of the Mukkathu family named Ackamma who used to take a small packet of aval to distribute it to the devotees after the Holy Qurbana on Maundy Thursday.

Ackamma used to give a pinch of rice flakes to all around her, and the members of the Mukkathu family continued the practice even after her death. The aval nercha became an elaborate event in later years, says Babu Zacharia, a former English professor and former president of the Mukkathu Kudumbayogam.

It is believed that a unique eight-headed coconut-scraper was gifted to the church by the royal chief for the annual aval nercha. There are others who believe that the foldable eight-headed coconut scraper is as old as the 1,650-year-old church. This antique piece is a major attraction of the aval nercha.

More than a thousand coconuts, 300 kg of rice flakes, 200 kg of jaggery, and spices go into the preparation of the aval, says Zacharia.

In the olden days, all these items were collected from the members of the Mukkathu family. However, now, rice flakes, jaggery and spices are purchased from the market, while the coconuts are collected from family members.

Collective effort

As many as 100 family members assemble on the church premises on the eve of Maundy Thursday, immediately after the evening service. The eldest member of the family present breaks a coconut after a short prayer, marking the beginning of the collective preparation of the aval.

The sweetened aval is kept to soak and swell in large bell metal vessels. It is distributed immediately after the morning service.

The faithful here still follow the custom and tradition of accepting the aval nercha in a cloth and not in a container of any kind, says Abraham.

Services in the church are conducted on a 2 week basis between the Orthodox and Marthoma factions based on pre-determined agreements.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church</span> Orthodox Church in Kerala, India

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. It serves India's Saint Thomas Christian population. According to tradition, these communities originated in the missions of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. It employs the Malankara Rite, an Indian form of the West Syriac liturgical rite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syro-Malankara Catholic Church</span> Eastern Catholic church

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, also known as the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular church in full communion with the worldwide Catholic Church possessing self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. It is one of the major archiepiscopal churches of the Catholic Church. It is headed by Major Archbishop Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum based in Kerala, India. With more than 1096 parishes, its one of India's biggest church evangelical establishments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mar Thoma Syrian Church</span> Church based in the Indian state of Kerala.

The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, often shortened to Mar Thoma Church, and known also as the Reformed Syrian Church and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, is an autonomous Oriental Protestant Christian church based in Kerala, India. While continuing many of the Syriac high church practices, the church is Protestant in its theology and doctrines. It employs a reformed variant of the West Syriac Rite Divine Liturgy of Saint James, translated to Malayalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malankara Metropolitan</span> A title in Indian Christianity

The Malankara Metropolitan or the Metropolitan of Malabar is an ecclesiastical title given to the head of the Malankara Syrian Church. It evolved from the title of the sixteenth century East Syriac metropolitans of India who were also styled the Metropolitan of Malabar. Since the division among the Saint Thomas Christians following the Synod of Diamper, the title has been mostly employed in association with the West Syriac branch of the community, usually known as the Malankara Church, among whom the office of the Malankara Metropolitan became the continuation of the local dynastic Archdeaconate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maramon</span> Village in Kerala, India

Maramon is a small village on the Pampa River in Thiruvalla taluk of Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala, India. The nearest railway station is at Chengannur (13 km). Maramon is about 16 km from the Thiruvalla. The M. K. Road connects the town to other major towns.

Mar Thoma I, also known as Valiya Mar Thoma and Arkkadiyakkon Thoma in Malayalam and Thomas de Campo in Portuguese was the first native-born, popularly-selected Metropolitan bishop of the 17th-century Malankara Church. He was the last Archdeacon of the undivided St. Thomas Christians of Malankara (Maliyankara).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoma III</span>

Mar Thoma III was the third metropolitan bishop who was the 3rd Metropolitan of the Malankara Church in India for a brief period from 1686 to 1688.

Mar Thoma V was the 5th Malankara Metropolitan who served puthenkoor from 1728 to 8 May 1765. He was born as Ousep to the Pallippuram branch of the Pakalomattom family, situated in Andoor, Marangattupilly, where his father served as administration chief of Vadakkumkur Kings. He was ordained in 1728 and served as Malankara Metropolitan for 37 years until his death on May 8, 1765. His final resting place is Niranam St. Mary’s Church. His tenure faced numerous challenges and conflicts with bishops sent from the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Antioch, resulting in some of these Syriac bishops being banished from the country and forced to return.

Mar Thoma VI, also known as Mar Dionysius I, was the 6th Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Church, serving from 1765 until his demise on 8 April 1808. His original name was Iype, and he was born as the only son of Mathew (Mathan) Tharakan, the elder brother of Mar Thoma V, in the Pallippuram branch of the Pakalomattom Family(Andoor, Marangattupilly).

Mar Thoma VII was a Bishop of the Malankara Church from 1796 and the 7th Malankara Metropolitan from April 1808 to July 1809. Born in Pakalomattom family in Kurichithanam, Pala, he was well known as an efficient administrator, deeply religious but was a quiet and reserved person. During his time, a difficult period in the history of Travancore State, the church was able to help Travancore government by depositing an amount as fixed deposit, which came to be known as Vattipanam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoma IX</span>

Mar Thoma IX was the ninth Metropolitan of the Malankara Church in Kerala, India for a brief period in 1816. That year, he was consecrated Metropolitan by Mar Thoma VIII, but soon after his ordination he was dethroned by Pulikkottil Joseph who was appointed by the then British resident Colonel John Munroe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vakathanam</span> Village in Kerala, India

Vakathanam is a Panchayat in Kottayam district of Kerala, India. It is 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from Kottayam on the way to Changanassery via Puthupally. Vakathanam panchayat consists of two villages: Vakathanam and Thottakkad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dionysius of Vattasseril</span> Indian saint

Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril popularly known as Vattasseril Thirumeni was a bishop of the Malankara Church and 15th Malankara Metropolitan. In 2003, the Church declared Mar Dionysius as a saint. He is known as 'The Great Luminary of Malankara Church', a title which the Church bestowed on him in recognition of his contribution to the Church.

St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu is one of the important churches in South India, located at a village named Puthencavu, Alappuzha district in Kerala state of India. The church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the Central Travancore region of Kerala.

Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos aka Puthencavil Kochu Thirumeni was an administrator, orator and an advocate of Orthodox and the Catholicate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India. He served as Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese from 1930 to 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally</span> Church

St.George Orthodox Church Puthuppally is a prominent church that belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. This church is situated beside the Puthuppally - Changanassery road about a kilometre from the Puthuppally junction, on the eastern bank of the Kodoor river. The surrounding areas of church are panoramic and very beautiful. The old church was well preserved church with wall murals dating back to ancient times. These unique wall murals have been painted using vegetable dyes. Former Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy is buried in this church.

Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar was a Kathanar of the Knanaya community of Kerala during the time of Portuguese persecution. Together with Arch Deacon Thoma Kathanar, he led the Malankara Church during the turbulent times towards the end of the Portuguese Padroado. In particular, he gave leadership to a crowd of about 25,000 members of the community at Mattancherry during the open revolt against the Portuguese in 1653 following the capture of the Syrian Bishop Ahatallah. The incident led to the Coonan Cross Oath.

Mor Ivanios Kuriakose is a Syriac Orthodox bishop, currently auxiliary Metropolitan of Knanaya Archdiocese in charge of the Ranni region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marthoma Metropolitans</span>

Mar Thoma Metropolitan is the title which is given to the Supreme Head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The Malankara Church was split into different factions over the years. However the Supreme Head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church uses the title of Mar Thoma Metropolitan upholding the autonomous character of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The current Mar Thoma Metropolitan of The Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas is Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma

References

  1. N.M.Mathew, Malankara Mar Thoma Sabha Charitram (Malayalam) Vol.I, page 186.
  2. N.M.Mathew, Malankara Mar Thoma Sabha Charitram (Malayalam) Vol.III, page 184-187.
  3. Chengannur Pazhaya Pally Trust Udampady, (Malayalam) second edition. 1971.
  4. "LOCAL HISTORY OF CHENGANNUR : A STUDY OF INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL RELATIONS" (PDF). shodhganga - a reservoir of Indian theses.
  5. Wilfred, Felix (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Christianity in Asia. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 458–459–460. ISBN   9780199329069.
  6. "The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Heritage : Keeping tradition alive". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

9°19′22″N76°36′20″E / 9.322683°N 76.605567°E / 9.322683; 76.605567